Porsche Penske Motorsport will field two Porsche 963 hybrid prototypes in the fiercely competitive Hypercar class. Customer outfit Proton Competition adds another Weissach-built prototype to the grid. In the LMGT3 category, Manthey is aiming to repeat last year’s success, when it secured a double podium with its pair of Porsche 911 GT3 R. The six-hour race, staged on the 5.513-kilometre Formula 1 circuit, runs under the banner of “Lone Star Le Mans.”
The preview
The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) returned to the Circuit of The Americas (CoTA) in 2024. This year, the two Porsche 963 hybrid prototypes have set their sights on a podium to keep the battle for manufacturers’ crown alive. At the wheel of the No. 5 car, three former Porsche Juniors share duties: France’s Julien Andlauer and Mathieu Jaminet alongside Denmark’s Michael Christensen. The No. 6 sister car is crewed by reigning World Endurance Champions Kévin Estre (France) and Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium). For the Austin race, they are joined by Australia’s Matt Campbell, another former Porsche Junior.
“We have the very best memories of Austin: between 2015 and 2017 we secured three wins there with the Porsche 919 Hybrid,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “We now need to achieve success in Texas with the Porsche 963 as well. We haven’t been as competitive as we had hoped this season, but going into Le Mans we turned things around and, thanks to a podium in São Paulo, we have kept our championship hopes alive. The team is fully prepared and eager for what promises to be a tight contest at the Circuit of The Americas.”
“We’re expecting a hot race – in every sense,” adds Urs Kuratle, Director Factory Motorsport LMDh, in the lead-up to round six of the season. “In early September, temperatures in Austin often soar well above 30°C. The asphalt heats up dramatically and puts all teams under major pressure in terms of tyre management. That’s why we’ve opted again to rotate three drivers per car. I’m convinced we’re well-prepared for these conditions.”
“The goal at São Paulo was to take maximum points and close the gap on the Manufacturers World Championship leaders. The reality is that both cars had a clean and fast race, finishing third and fourth. We couldn’t have asked for more from the team,” explains Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. “We go into Austin with the same goal, and we’re feeling confident in our performance and operation that we can edge even closer.”
German privateer squad Proton Competition will enter another Porsche 963 at the spectacular Formula 1 venue in Texas. The No. 99 hybrid prototype will be shared by Swiss driver Neel Jani, Chile’s Nico Pino and Argentina’s Nico Varrone.
Manthey 1st Phorm charges ahead in its bid for the LMGT3 crown
Manthey 1st Phorm arrives in Austin leading the FIA Endurance Trophy standings in the LMGT3 category. The outfit from Germany’s Eifel region holds a 13-point advantage with three rounds remaining. At the wheel of the No. 92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, American driver Ryan Hardwick teams up with Austrian factory driver Richard Lietz and Italy’s Riccardo Pera. In the sister car, the Iron Dames will once again tackle the fiercely competitive LMGT3 field, which features 18 GT3 cars from nine manufacturers. Rahel Frey (Switzerland), Michelle Gatting (Denmark) and Célia Martin (France) will be chasing top honours in their Porsche 911 GT3 R.
The race
The six-hour event at the Circuit of The Americas (CoTA) runs under the banner “Lone Star Le Mans”. The FIA WEC previously visited the 5.513-kilometre Formula 1 track between 2013 and 2017, and again in the 2019/20 and 2024 seasons. With three overall wins, Porsche remains the most successful manufacturer at the WEC round close to the Texas capital, Austin. Early September often brings extreme heat in Austin, with air temperatures reaching close to 40°C and track temperatures soaring well beyond 50°C. Tyre wear becomes a decisive factor under such conditions.
Opened in 2012, CoTA has already hosted 12 Formula 1 Grands Prix. The 5.513-kilometre circuit features 20 corners, including the dramatic climb into Turn 1, a flowing high-speed section at the start of sector two, and the landmark viewing tower. Its extremely bumpy surface adds to the challenge. The US round of the WEC is hugely popular among teams, drivers and fans alike, not least because Austin, known as the “Live Music Capital of the World”, offers a vibrant cultural backdrop.
Driver comments before the race
Julien Andlauer (Porsche 963 #5): “Texas is one of the coolest states in the US – I’m really excited to finally be heading back there. Austin has a fantastic atmosphere, a mix of beauty and a little bit of craziness. The track presents big challenges, especially the summer heat, which really takes a toll on us. It’s great to have Mathieu Jaminet back on board so we can share the driving across three of us.”
Laurens Vanthoor (Porsche 963 #6): “Travelling to Austin is always a highlight. The city has such a unique flair and the weather is usually great. I also really enjoy the track. Last year, we weren’t particularly strong in Texas, but after a thorough analysis, we’ve understood the reasons why. Hopefully, we can put those lessons into practice this weekend, improve our performance and score some big points.”
Neel Jani (Porsche 963 #99): “A top-ten finish and our first championship point in Brazil showed that we’re moving in the right direction. We want to keep building on that momentum. I’m very curious to see how the Porsche 963 will handle around Austin. Our goal is a single-digit result in the Hypercar class. It’s often hot in Texas, but we’ve also seen sudden heavy showers there – so I expect an eventful and exciting race.”
Rahel Frey (Porsche 911 GT3 R #85): “After a strong performance in Brazil and a refreshing break, we’re heading to Austin full of energy. It’s a fantastic place with a vibrant atmosphere and great barbecues. We had a decent pace on this unique track last year. Texas, we’re ready – and we’re aiming for the podium.”
Ryan Hardwick (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): “I drove my very first laps in a race car at the Circuit of The Americas back in 2015 – so the place holds a lot of great memories for me. I’m really looking forward to racing here again with my Manthey 1st Phorm teammates in the Porsche 911 GT3 R. Hopefully, we can deliver a strong result at my home WEC race, in front of my fans.”
Porsche racing cars and drivers in Austin
Hypercar class (Porsche 963):
Porsche Penske Motorsport #5: Julien Andlauer (FRA), Michael Christensen (DNK), Mathieu Jaminet (FRA)
Porsche Penske Motorsport #6: Kévin Estre (FRA), Laurens Vanthoor (BEL), Matt Campbell (AUS)
Proton Competition #99: Neel Jani (CHE), Nico Pino (CHL), Nico Varrone (ARG)
LMGT3 class (Porsche 911 GT3 R):
Iron Dames #85: Rahel Frey (CHE), Michelle Gatting (DNK), Célia Martin (FRA)
Manthey 1st Phorm #92: Ryan Hardwick (USA), Richard Lietz (AUT), Riccardo Pera (ITA)
The schedule (local time = CEST -7 hours)
Friday, 5 September
11:30 – 13:00 hrs: Free practice 1
16:00 – 17:30 hrs: Free practice 2
Saturday, 6 September
11:00 – 12:00 hrs: Free practice 3
15:00 – 15:12 hrs: Qualifying LMGT3
15:20 – 15:30 hrs: Hyperpole LMGT3
15:40 – 15:52 hrs: Qualifying Hypercar
16:00 – 16:10 hrs: Hyperpole Hypercar
Sunday, 7 September
13:00 – 19:00 hrs: Race Lone Star Le Mans